Updated PFF NFL draft first-round projections cut in half for Clemson

PFF sees Peter Woods as a possible Top 5 selection.

Brandon Rink · Assoc. Editor / Staff Writer · Thursday, October 16 2025

A lot can change in six months, and likely, there will be some shifts on NFL draft boards in the next six.

After four Clemson first-round projections initially, PFF has two Tigers getting selections -- both coming in the Top 10.

That starts with Peter Woods and a No. 5 pick for the New Orleans Saints.

"Woods entered the season as a top-three player on the PFF big board, and with Clemson’s struggles this season, it would be fair to wonder if Woods should still be considered a high pick," PFF's Trevor Sikkema said. "After going back through his film, the answer is yes. He isn’t having as dominant a year as we thought he could as a pass-rusher, but this is still a rare athlete for someone who is 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds with the ability to discard blockers at will. He still has an 84.2 run-defense grade with a 75.1 pass-rush grade against true pass sets, and he isn’t even 21 years old yet."

His D-line teammate T.J. Parker comes off the board one spot later, to the Tennessee Titans.

"Like Woods, Parker was in the top five of PFF’s initial preseason big board, and like Woods again, Parker’s future NFL ability is still evident even through Clemson’s struggles as a team. At 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, Parker has the frame to play multiple edge alignments in multiple defensive fronts. He has a 15.2% pass-rush win rate in addition to a variety of pass-rush moves (both speed and power) this season. He has also earned a 78.0 run-defense game, which showcases a well-rounded game," said Sikkema.

PFF's 'Way-Too-Early' mock projection back in April had Cade Klubnik at No. 4 overall, Parker at No. 7, Woods at No. 9 and CB Avieon Terrell at No. 13.

PFF's updated big board has Woods on top from Clemson (3), Parker next (4), with Terrell (21), Klubnik (92), WR Antonio Williams (93) and RT Blake Miller (95) in the Top 100 also. DE Will Heldt (162), DT DeMonte Capehart (173) and CB Jeadyn Lukus (222) are also in the Top 300.

Clemson has had multiple first-round selections six times in the Dabo Swinney era, most recently in 2023 (Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee in picks 28-29).